Saturday, February 28, 2009

Locks of Love


Last summer I asked E if she would be interested in donating her hair to Locks of Love. I wasn't sure if she would even know what I was talking about, but she said that she had read a story in the American Girl magazine about it, and was already thinking about doing it. We talked about how there were lots of little girls who had cancer, like Papi, and they lost their hair when they took medicine. I then said that it would be nice to do it in honor of Papi, even though 60 year old men don't wear wigs when they lose their hair from chemo. She agreed, and we have been measuring her hair every couple of months to see if it was long enough. Finally, it reached the requisite 10 inches, and we decided it was time to cut it. E asked her good friend Kyra if she would like to do Lock of Love too. Kyra agreed immediately, and her mom and I set up an appointment for this morning. We decided to go to "Cookie Cutters" in Chestnut Hill because they send off the hair for you, and the cut is free for LoL. It is also a very cute hair place for kids with a kid themed waiting room (slides and video games), and the styling "chairs" are actually cars, trucks, and motorcycles. The girls had fun sitting on the motorcycle, and we took lots of before, during and after pictures. Following the haircuts, we all went to the French Bakery to celebrate. The moms had "The Egg Thing", while the girls had muffins and croissants. It was such a fun, special morning, that the girls are already planning on doing it again next year








I really liked doing this with E because it was a tangible way that she could help someone with cancer. It is something that she was able to do, and a way that she could give, and bring joy to another little girl. It made me a little teary eyed as I brushed her hair this morning for the last time, thinking of where this hair was going, and of the mother and daughter on the other end. I just pray for them, what they are going through, and that this donation of E's will be a blessing.

4 comments:

The Family K. said...

Nicely done, E!

Heather said...

This is the sweetest post I have read in a long time. The pictures are baautiful and both girls look amazing post-cut. Thank you for sharing this special story! Can't wait to read about it again next year!

Bala Waxworks said...

I was noting the length of E's hair in the Valentine's picture and wondered what the story might be.... My girlfriend from college has two girls aound the same age as E and her b/f. Her oldest has beautiful curly, wavy blonde hair and had decided to give her hair to LOL on her own, too. She was also giving her mittons to classmates that didn't have gloves on the playground and kept stuffing more than one pair in her coat pockets just in case. It really is touching to see examples of such giving hearts when so many are raised to be thoughtless and self-centered. luv, L

Amy from Occupation: Mommy said...

I think Locks of Love is such a wonderful thing. Did you show E their website? There are pictures of children before and after they got their wigs, as well as pictures of children before and after their haircuts. Audrey really liked looking at the pictures when she cut her hair for LoL. It is an amazing way for a child to make a real difference in someone else's life. And she looks adorable, too!